Writing Good Hooks

1. Writing Good Hooks Catch your readers’ interest from the get go!

2. Tell a Story • Use a short anecdote to introduce the subject to your reader. Yesterday morning a little sister watched as her older sister left for school with a bright white glob of toothpaste gleaming on her chin. The little sister felt no regret at all until she stepped onto the bus … • In everyday life people do things out of spite.

3. Ask a Question • Ask your reader a question that will make them start to think about the subject, and make them feel more involved in the piece. Has the world created an easy way out when adapting books into films? Is there any one movie that is better than the book? … The book is always better than the movie.

4. Use a Fact • Use a surprising fact or statistic that will get the reader thinking. Fish, the drummer for the band Phish, started to play the vacuum cleaner after another band member’s girlfriend dared him to (citation needed)… Phish is the most musically talented band that there is.

5. Use a Quote • Use a relevant quotation from a notable source to introduce your subject. Hillary Rodham Clinton once said that “There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard.” (citation needed)… A women’s rights are just as important as a man’s.

6. Use Humor • Using appropriate humor is a good way to ease your reader into the subject and reveal your voice as a writer. It was a game of charades on Christmas eve. Ashley stood in front of her family waiting to act out what the tiny piece of paper said. Opening the paper Ashley was in shock only to find a booger instead of the clue. Erica was rolling on the ground laughing. …Girls are grosser than boys.

7. Why should I? • Think of your first sentence to your introduction as your chance to entice your reader’s interest. Using any of the given examples will strengthen your essay!